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Highlights: Easy trails, perfect for family-friendly hikes, and dog watching. It's a birding trail site, but you might find the birds are up in the canopy! Dogfish Creek -- Salmon viewing in Autumn. Look for the large driftwood fish and murals if you go under the road.
Activities:
Hiking, walking, birding (though you'll find many of the birds are either high in the canopy or well away from the path), seasonal salmon viewing in Autumn (if you're lucky enough to see them here), relaxing. Picnic areas.
Birds & Wildlife:
I'd check the ebird checklist for this location to see all of the birds here. Myself, I've seen the usual little brown jobs, tree swallows at some of the boxes that are a bit off one of the trails, american goldfinches, American robins (of course). Osprey and Bald Eagle (flying far overhead at this location.
Safety Considerations: In wet weather, some of the boardwalk areas can be slippery, but most have some non-skid padding. There were a few boardwalk areas in need of repair, but most were marked.
Are there restrooms? There is a sani-can by the entrance on Lindvig Way and another by the entrance on Bond Road. The park is small enough so you should be able to get to a restroom if you need to.
Additional Route Info: Look for signs around the park discussing Dogfish creek, area birds, and also look for occasional art installations. This park has also been a popular Pokemon Go gym and, while traffic about that has slowed (mostly), you still may see people standing around with cell phones. While you can see them anywhere, this might be what they are doing.
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Route Description
This is a route around Poulsbo's Fish Park. Really, it's just a meander. The length can pretty much be any length that you want, and you can just spend your time exploring the trails. I've tried to include some icons in the route waypoints at the end and on the map showing where various things are (picnic tables), etc. If you want a restroom, you'll find a sani-can near the Lindvig Way entrance.
Poulsbo's Fish Park is popular with dog walkers (dog walkers, note that there are "doggie bags" available near the front of the park, so clean up after your pup!) and with families with kids.
Though not as popular as it used to be, it seems the Poulsbo Fish Park is also a Pokemon Go spot. One day, the park was crowded, and a mom, rolling her eyes, told me, "It's a Charmander event."
The park sits on Dogfish Creek, and its estuary empties out into Liberty Bay.
I noted that one intrepid kayaker, some time ago, had blogged about kayaking into Fish Park. However, I'd be very careful about that and be very aware of the tides. It turns into a mud flat when the tide goes out, and you could get trapped. I've kayaked Liberty Bay many, many times, but I have not ventured into Fish Park.
The park has numerous boardwalks and little bridges going over streams. There are also several benches around the park, observation platforms, and picnic tables.
You'll also find a small amphitheater here at the park, which appears to be intended for outdoor educational programs, though I've never seen it used for such.
Fish at the Fish Park
You might think that Poulsbo's Fish Park was named for the fish motif that runs throughout the park! But there are fish here -- during the fall salmon run, you might be able to spy coho and chum salmon as well as some trout here. In early November, WSU usually hosts salmon tours, and this is one of the numerous spots around town to view the salmon.
Besides fish, you'll likely encounter plenty of bunnies at the park, as well. In fact, you're likely to encounter more bunnies than fish.
Art at Poulsbo's Fish Park
Notable is its large driftwood fish sculpture made by local artist Travis Foreman.
The site had been a candidate for one of the wood troll sculptures by Thomas Dambo -- which seems a good fit for Poulsbo -- but the city decided against it, and Bainbridge Island now has Pia the Peacemaker at Sakai Park.
You can walk underneath the road on one path and view murals by artist James Mayo -- one depicting otters and fish and another depicting natural and what I, upon first glance, thought were supposed to be "historical" scenes -- though I am pretty sure that no Viking maidens existed in Poulsbo except in the imagination or in cosplay!
One of the murals by artist James Mayo at Poulsbo's Fish Park.
If you go past the bridge and follow the trail where the murals are, the side with the Viking maiden will take you into the parking lot of Liberty Bay Auto Center, and then you can find some steps to get back up to the street and continue your walk into downtown Poulsbo.
If you walk alongside the fish mural, you'll walk behind some apartment buildings and then encounter some stairs that will take you up to a playground and the historic Martinson cabin.
Birding at Poulsbo's Fish Park
If you come into the park at the Lindvig Way entrance, you might note a birding trail sign. There are many birds here...but bring your binoculars and prepare for frustration with getting bird photos (and have a long lens ready). On most of my visits here, the birds are high up in the canopy or way back in one of the bird boxes. Sure, I've seen a bald eagle or osprey flying far overhead, but I've found this area better for bird viewing or bird sounds than for getting decent bird photos (except for little brown jobs and robins that like to come down to ground level).
Not for cycling!
The trails at the fish park are not for cycling. Foot traffic only. There are (fish-shaped, of course) racks to lock up your ride near the entrances to the park.
Route Waypoints
1. Viewing Platform
Altitude:23 ft
2. Picnic Tables
Altitude:35 ft
An area with a trellis and picnic tables for if you packed a lunch.
3. Bike Rack
Altitude:82 ft
A sign says you must walk your bike through the park. Fortunately, if you ride a bike here, there are fish-shaped bike racks at the entrances.
4. Platform
Altitude:18 ft
5. Hilltop benches
Altitude:39 ft
Benches and some tiles made by local school kids at the top of the hill with the driftwood fish.
6. Fish Park Entrance
Altitude:42 ft
This is the entrance to the Fish Park on Lindvig Way. There's a parking lot at this entrance as well as it's the primary entrance! The
7. Bat Boxes
Altitude:23 ft
These are bat boxes, as bats are helpful pollinators.
It seems that most people enter either here or on Lindvig Way. There's a parking lot here and then there's an accessible ramp walkway with rails into the park at this entrance.
14. Cultural History of Liberty (Dogfish) Bay Sign
Altitude:23 ft
A sign with information about Liberty Bay's history.
15. Benches and Bridge
Altitude:34 ft
16. Stairs
Altitude:49 ft
There are some stairs here.
17. Lookout over the estuary.
Altitude:10 ft
A platform looking out over the Dogfish Creek estuary.
18. Boardwalk
Altitude:43 ft
19. Slippery Path
Altitude:24 ft
Be careful here. The small wood walkway was flooded over and extremely slippery!
20. Boardwalk
Altitude:48 ft
21. Playset
Altitude:35 ft
22. Bench
Altitude:53 ft
23. Streams and Ponds
Altitude:30 ft
24. Big Tree
Altitude:57 ft
There's a large tree here that I think is dead. My kids used to sit in the branches, they tell me, when they were younger, and I've seen some interesting fungi on it from time to time that I, unfortunately, did not photograph.
If you see people milling around here with cell phones, it's likely because of Pokemon Go.
25. Bridge
Altitude:35 ft
26. Estuary and Marshland
Altitude:13 ft
27. Creating an Imperfect Web
Altitude:24 ft
I'm writing this when I'm not at the park, but you'll find signs like these throughout. I think that this sign is about the web of life or ecosystems at the park.
28. Hill up to the fish sculpture.
Altitude:39 ft
The fish sculpture sits atop a small hill with a pathway to the top.
29. Platform and Bench
Altitude:15 ft
Another viewing platform and bench.
30. Bridge
Altitude:24 ft
31. Volunteerism Sign
Altitude:35 ft
Poulsbo Fish Park depends on volunteerism to build and maintain it. Here's a sign about the Volunteerism.
32. Walkway
Altitude:14 ft
33. Boardwalk
Altitude:47 ft
34. Platform and benches
Altitude:15 ft
One of the many viewing platforms at the park.
35. Walkway from Bond Road
Altitude:21 ft
As far as accessibility at the park, this is probably the most accessible entrance as they built a long ramp with rails here.
36. Bench
Altitude:25 ft
37. Driftwood Fish Sculpture
Altitude:40 ft
ArtistTravis Foreman
Up the hill and you'll see a giant driftwood Salmon built in 2008 by artist Travis Foreman.
38. Bird Nesting Boxes
Altitude:19 ft
At this location, you'll find some bird nesting boxes. I've seen many swallows at these in the Summer, but they're far back off the path, and visitors shouldn't walk back to the boxes and disturb the birds.
39. Viking Way Entrance
Altitude:81 ft
This is where I started my route, as this entrance is nearest me. However, you won't find parking here -- just a fish-shaped bike rack -- and so most people enter via Lindvig Way or Bond Road as both those entrances have parking.
40. End
Altitude:80 ft
This is just where I finished recording this walk. You can finish wherever you came in!
41. Bridge, then under Lindvig Way and murals
Altitude:30 ft
Address:225 NW Lindvig Way, Poulsbo, WA 98370, USA
If you cross the bridge over Dogfish Creek into Liberty Bay, you'll find some murals by artist James Mayo that were completed in 2016.
42. Sani-can
Altitude:38 ft
Address:Lindvig Way at 3rd Ave (Poulsbo Junction), Poulsbo, WA 98370, USA
I don't have a photo of the sani-can here. You'll also find doggie bags here for your pooch. The park is dog-friendly but keep him on a leash and pick up after him!
Photos of Poulsbo’s Fish Park: A Meander Around the Trails
James Mayo mural under the road at Poulsbo's Fish Park
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The Sandpiper Trail at Grays Harbor Wildlife Refuge in Hoquiam, WA is a short, easy hike and a great place for birdwatching, especially during Spring migration.
Read our Poulsbo Post (1) Cheryl Author: Cheryl Created: March 19, 2024 7:01 pm Updated: February 5, 2025 12:18 pm Categories: By FootHiking Tags: Easy HikesFamily-friendly hikesHikingKitsap hikesNaturePoulsboPoulsbo Fish ParkRoutes Surface: Boardwalk, DirtDistance: 0-5 milesRoute Type: LoopRoute Locale: Kitsap County, PNW Routes, Washington State Difficulty 1/5 Pet Friendly? 5/5 Family Friendliness 5/5 Ebike Friendly? 1/5 Mobile Reception 5/5 Highlights Easy trails, perfect for family-friendly hikes, and dog watching. It's a birding trail site, but you might find the birds are up in the canopy! Dogfish Creek -- Salmon viewing in Autumn. Look for the large driftwood fish and murals if you go under the road. Safety Concerns In wet weather, some of the boardwalk areas can be slippery, but most have some non-skid padding. There were a few boardwalk areas in need of repair, but most were marked. eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2845512/bird-list Route Website https://cityofpoulsbo.com/city-parks-trails-2/ Map or Brochure Link chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://cityofpoulsbo.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/City-of-Poulsbo-Fish-Park-Brochure.pdf Birds and Wildlife in This Area I'd check the ebird checklist for this location to see all of the birds here. Myself, I've seen the usual little brown jobs, tree swallows at some of the boxes that are a bit off one of the trails, american goldfinches, American robins (of course). Osprey and Bald Eagle (flying far overhead at this location. Additional Route Information Look for signs around the park discussing Dogfish creek, area birds, and also look for occasional art installations. This park has also been a popular Pokemon Go gym and, while traffic about that has slowed (mostly), you still may see people standing around with cell phones. While you can see them anywhere, this might be what they are doing. Are there restrooms on this route? There is a sani-can by the entrance on Lindvig Way and another by the entrance on Bond Road. The park is ...
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